THE future is uncertain for businesses in Semington in the wake of the opening of a bypass around the village.

People running businesses in and around Semington are worried the £12m road will take away passing trade, but say it is too early to gauge the level of the problem.

Diane Ceylan, manager of the Waney Edge Caf, said business initially suffered after signs gave the impression the road past the caf was closed.

She said the business has a lot of regulars who will continue to use it but it will take a few months before the full impact of the new road on passing trade will be felt.

She said: "I think we are probably a bit down but we have to give it six months or so.

"We are an established business and have been here for 25 years. It will possibly hit other businesses harder."

David Trigg, manager of car dealer Triggs of Semington, said: "It is early days, but saying that I have just had my busiest weekend for a long time.

"There is a benefit to the new road opening in that I can hear customers on the forecourt, without lorries going by.

"But I am still concerned they have closed the road and how it will influence passing business in the long term."

Also under threat is the village shop and post office, which retiring sub postmaster Jim Lloyd was unable to sell as a going concern.

He has been forced to try and find a residential buyer for the property, while the parish council looks into alternatives for providing a post office.

The new road opened to traffic on March 26, and is expected to take about 18,000 vehicles a day away from the A350 through the village.

The road has already seen its first accident. A father and son were seriously injured when their car ploughed into a lorry being driven by a contractor working on the road.

Environmental groups have raised concerns about the effect the new road will have on wildlife, after two animals were killed within days of the road opening.

Safety measures including £100,000 badger tunnels failed to prevent a badger and a deer being hit by cars using the new road.

Wiltshire County Council has undertaken improvements, including sealing holes and modifying one of the badger tunnels to try to prevent other animals getting onto the road.